Cutting tool, system and method for increasing traceability of a cutting edge

ABSTRACT

A cutting tool, system, method and computer program product for increasing traceability of at least a first cutting edge of a cutting tool. The method includes detecting at least a first identification marker on the cutting tool, reading the at least first identification marker, decoding the at least first identification marker to determine at least a first cutting edge information data included in the machine readable code of the at least first identification marker, generating a first cutting tool identification data based on at least the at least first cutting edge information data, and storing at least any of the at least first cutting tool identification data and the at least first cutting edge information data in a memory.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure pertains to the field of chip removing machining.

BACKGROUND

A cutting tool may comprise one or more cutting edges that are used forremoving chips from a piece of material. Typically a cutting tool isinserted into a cutting tool holder and a machine is e.g. rotating thecutting tool holder together with the cutting tool for processing thepiece of material. The piece of material is processed when a cuttingedge of the cutting tool comes in contact with the piece of material. Acutting tool may comprise one or more cutting edges that are used forremoving chips from the piece of material that is being processed by thecutting tool. A cutting edge becomes worn when it is removing chips formthe piece of the material. When a cutting edge, or a plurality ofcutting edges, of a cutting tool is worn to a certain extent, thecutting tool may need to be replaced or cannot be used for certain typeof processing. Dependent on the usage of the cutting tool, e.g.dependent on the piece of material that is processed, and how the pieceof material is processed, the cutting edges of the cutting tool becomesworn in a certain way. Today many end-customers are not managing how acertain cutting tool is used. Further, manufacturers of cutting toolsand cutting edges are also not aware of e.g. certain usage that caused acertain worn of a certain cutting edge of a cutting tool. A manufacturerof a cutting tool also have difficulties knowing when a certain cuttingedge of a cutting tool was produced and e.g. under what circumstancesthe cutting edge was produced, the specific materials used etc.

SUMMARY

Today there are cutting tools with an identification marking on eachtool in order to manage the tools. A cutting tool can then beidentified. There is however a demand for an easier way to increasetraceability of the cutting edges on the cutting tools. Differentcutting edges can be worn differently, and a certain cutting edge may bedysfunctional on a certain cutting tool. Not knowing anything about thespecific cutting edge but only the identification of the cutting toolwill not help traceability of a particular cutting edge. In order toe.g. improve the manufacturing process of cutting edges, there is ademand for an increased traceability of each and every cutting edge, andtraceability of the cutting tool with the certain cutting edges. Thereis also a demand for associating data such as operational data togetherwith a specific cutting edge. Both manufacturers of cutting edges andend-customers of the cutting edges benefit from understanding productiondetails and operation details that are associated with each cutting edgethroughout the lifetime of each cutting edge of a cutting tool. Thesedetails can e.g. help the manufacturer to improve the manufacturing ofcutting edges, and the details can help an end-customer of a cuttingtool with cutting edges to e.g. manage the cutting tool and associatecertain operation data with a certain cutting tool with certain cuttingedges.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a cutting tool, asystem, a method and a computer program product which seek to mitigate,alleviate, or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficienciesin the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination.

The disclosure proposes a cutting tool comprising at least a firstcutting edge and at least a first identification marker arranged at thefirst cutting edge wherein the at least first identification marker is amachine readable code associated with a first cutting edge informationdata wherein the first cutting edge information data is a uniqueidentity. This means that the at least a first cutting edge can beidentified using the first cutting edge information data.

According to an aspect the cutting tool further comprising a secondcutting edge and a second identification marker arranged at the secondcutting edge wherein the second identification marker is a machinereadable code associated with a second cutting edge information data.This means that the first cutting edge can be identified using the firstcutting edge information data and that the second cutting edge can beidentified using the second cutting edge information data.

According to an aspect the first identification marker is arranged onthe cutting tool at a distance to the first cutting edge that is shorterthan the distance from the first identification marker to the secondcutting edge, and the second identification marker is arranged on thecutting tool at a distance to the second cutting edge that is shorterthan the distance from the second identification marker to the firstcutting edge. One advantage with this arrangement of the identificationmarkers is hence that an operator, or a machine, can determine whichcutting edge that is associated with a certain identification marker.

According to an aspect the at least first identification marker is atleast any of, or a combination of at least any of, a two dimensionalcode, a three dimensional code, an image, a Quick Response code, a HighCapacity Colored Two Dimensional Code, a European Article Number code, aDataMatrix code or a MaxiCode. This means that the at least firstidentification marker is visually readable on the cutting tool by amachine but also visually detectable by e.g. an operator handling thecutting tool.

The disclosure further proposes a system for increasing traceability ofat least a first cutting edge of a cutting tool. The system comprises areader device for reading a machine readable code, an electronic deviceconfigured to be connected with the reader device. The electronic devicehaving at least one processing circuitry configured to cause the systemto detect, by the reader device, at least a first identification markeron the cutting tool wherein the at least first identification marker isa machine readable code, read, by the reader device, the at least firstidentification marker and decode the at least first identificationmarker to determine at least a first cutting edge information datacomprised in the machine readable code of the at least firstidentification marker wherein the first cutting edge information data isa unique identity. The processing circuitry is then further configuredto cause the system to generate a first cutting tool identification databased on at least the at least first cutting edge information data andstore at least any of the at least first cutting tool identificationdata and the at least first cutting edge information data in a memory.One advantage with the system is that the generated first cutting toolidentification data is based on the at least first cutting edgeinformation data. This means that there is an association between thegenerated first cutting tool identification data and the at least firstcutting edge information data.

According to an aspect the processing circuitry is further configured tocause the system to detect, by the reader device, a secondidentification marker on the cutting tool wherein the secondidentification marker is a machine readable code, read, by the readerdevice, the first identification marker and the second identificationmarker, and decode the second identification marker to determine asecond cutting edge information data comprised in the machine readablecode of the second identification marker. The processing circuitry isthen further configured to cause the system to generate a first cuttingtool identification data based on the first cutting edge informationdata and the second cutting edge information data. One advantage withthe system is then that the generated first cutting tool identificationdata is based on the at least first cutting edge information data andthe second cutting edge information data. This means that there is anassociation between the generated first cutting tool identification dataand the at least first cutting edge information data and the secondcutting edge information data.

According to an aspect the system further comprises a cutting toolcomprising at least a first cutting edge, wherein the cutting tool isconfigured to be mounted in a cutting tool holder. This means that thecutting tool can be mounted in a cutting tool holder of a machine forprocessing a piece of material. According to an aspect the cutting toolfurther comprising a tool holder.

The disclosure further proposes a method for increasing traceability ofat least a first cutting edge of a cutting tool. The method comprisingdetecting, by a reader device, at least a first identification marker onthe cutting tool wherein the at least first identification marker is amachine readable code, reading, by the reader device, the at least firstidentification marker and decoding the read at least firstidentification marker to determine at least a first cutting edgeinformation data comprised in the machine readable code of the at leastfirst identification marker wherein the first cutting edge informationdata is a unique identity. The method then further comprising generatinga first cutting tool identification data based on at least the at leastfirst cutting edge information data, and storing at least any of the atleast first cutting tool identification data and the at least firstcutting edge information data in a memory. One advantage with the methodis that the generated first cutting tool identification data is based onthe at least first cutting edge information data. This means that thereis an association between the generated first cutting toolidentification data and the at least first cutting edge informationdata.

According to an aspect the method further comprising the step ofdetecting, by the reader device, a second identification marker on thecutting tool wherein the second identification marker is a machinereadable code, followed by the step of reading, by the reader device,the second identification marker, followed by the step of decoding thesecond identification marker to determine a second cutting edgeinformation data comprised in the machine readable code of the secondidentification marker. The method then further comprising the step ofgenerating a first cutting tool identification data based on the firstcutting edge information data and the second cutting edge informationdata.

According to an aspect the method further comprising the step ofreceiving input of at least a first operation data to be associated withat least any of the at least first cutting tool identification data andthe at least first cutting edge information data and the step of storingthe at least first operation data associated with at least one of the atleast first cutting tool identification data and the at least firstcutting edge information data in the memory. This means that a firstoperation data can be stored and associated with at least one of the atleast first cutting tool identification data and the at least firstcutting edge information data, so that the first operation data can beretrieved at a later point of time with knowledge of at least one of theat least first cutting tool identification data and the at least firstcutting edge information data.

According to an aspect the method further comprising the step ofgenerating at least a first association data comprising the at leastfirst cutting tool identification data associated with at least one ofthe at least first cutting edge information data and the at least firstoperation data and storing the at least a first association data in thememory. This means that the at least a first association data can beused for identifying the at least first cutting tool identification datawith knowledge of any of the at least first cutting edge informationdata and the at least first operation data, or that the at least a firstassociation data can be used for identifying at least any of the firstcutting edge information data and the at least first operation data withknowledge of the at least first cutting tool identification data.

According to an aspect the method further comprising the step ofdetecting, by the reader device, at least the first identificationmarker on the cutting tool, followed by the step of reading, by thereader device, the at least first identification marker, and the step ofdecoding the at least first identification marker to determine the firstcutting edge information data comprised in the machine readable code ofthe at least first identification marker. The method then furthercomprising the step of retrieving, from the memory, at least any of thefirst cutting tool identification data associated with the first cuttingedge information data, and the at least first operation data associatedwith the first cutting edge information data. In other words by readingthe at least the first identification marker with a reader device,information about any of the at least first cutting tool identificationdata and the at least first operation data can be retrieved from thememory.

According to an aspect the method further comprising the step ofdisplaying, via a user interface, at least any of the first cutting toolidentification data, the first cutting edge information data, and the atleast first operation data. This means that an operator can see theretrieved information via a user interface.

According to an aspect the method is performed at an electronic devicehaving at least one processing circuitry.

The disclosure further proposes a computer program product comprising anon-transitory computer readable medium, having thereon a computerprogram comprising program instructions, the computer program beingloadable into a processing circuitry and configured to cause executionof the method, and any aspect of the method, when the computer programis run by the processing circuitry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of the example embodiments, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to thesame parts throughout the different views. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe example embodiments.

FIGS. 1a-1d illustrates different cutting tools according to someaspects of the disclosure.

FIGS. 2a-2c illustrates different systems according to some aspects ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of the method steps according to someaspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a computer program product according to some aspectsof the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates example cutting tool identification data associatedwith cutting edge information data and operation data according to someaspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates example cutting tools each with unique cutting edgeinformation data according to some aspects of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure will be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The method anddevice disclosed herein can, however, be realized in many differentforms and should not be construed as being limited to the aspects setforth herein. Like numbers in the drawings refer to like elementsthroughout.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularaspects of the disclosure only, and is not intended to limit thedisclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise.

In some implementations and according to some aspects of the disclosure,the functions or steps noted in the blocks can occur out of the ordernoted in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown insuccession can in fact be executed substantially concurrently or theblocks can sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality/acts involved.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplaryaspects of the disclosure. However, many variations and modificationscan be made to these aspects without substantially departing from theprinciples of the present disclosure. Thus, the disclosure should beregarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and not as beinglimited to the particular aspects discussed above. Accordingly, althoughspecific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptivesense only and not for purposes of limitation.

It should be noted that the word “comprising” does not necessarilyexclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed andthe words “a” or “an” preceding an element do not exclude the presenceof a plurality of such elements. It should further be noted that anyreference signs do not limit the scope of the claims, that the exampleembodiments may be implemented at least in part by means of bothhardware and software, and that several “means”, “units” or “devices”may be represented by the same item of hardware.

In order to e.g. improve the manufacturing process of cutting edges,there is a demand for an increased traceability of each and everycutting edge, and traceability of the cutting tool with the certaincutting edges. There is also a demand for associating data such asoperational data together with a specific cutting edge. Bothmanufacturers of cutting tools and end-customers of the cutting toolsbenefit from understanding production details and operation details thatare associated with each cutting edge throughout the lifetime of thecutting edge. These details can e.g. help the manufacturer to improvethe manufacturing of cutting edges, and the details can help anend-customer of a cutting tool with cutting edges to e.g. manage thecutting tool and associate certain operation data with a certain cuttingtool with certain cutting edges.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a cutting tool, asystem, a method and a computer program product which seek to mitigate,alleviate, or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficienciesin the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination.

The disclosure proposes a cutting tool 20 comprising at least a firstcutting edge 21 and at least a first identification marker 41 arrangedat the first cutting edge 21. FIG. 1a-1d illustrates different cuttingtools according to some aspects of the disclosure. There are differentkinds of cutting tools. Examples of cutting tools are cutting inserts,milling cutters, solid end mills, turning tools, drilling tools, boringheads, reaming tools, thread turning tools, thread milling tools, andthread tapping tools, etc.

The at least first identification marker 41 is a machine readable codeassociated with a first cutting edge information data 1 ceID. This meansthat the at least a first cutting edge 21 can be identified using thefirst cutting edge information data 1 ceID. According to an aspect thecutting edge information data is a unique identity. According to anaspect the cutting edge information data is a number and/or acombination of figures and letters. According to an aspect the cuttingedge information data is a serial number. Dependent on at what point inthe product lifetime the cutting tool 20 is, the cutting edgeinformation data may comprise further information as will be discussedin more detail below.

The cutting tool 20 illustrated in FIG. 1d comprising a first cuttingedge 21 and a first identification marker 41 arranged at the firstcutting edge 21. According to an aspect the cutting tool 20 comprising aplurality of cutting edges, as illustrated in FIGS. 1a -1 c.

According to an aspect the cutting tool 20 further comprising a secondcutting edge 22 and a second identification marker 42 arranged at thesecond cutting edge 22 wherein the second identification marker 42 is amachine readable code associated with a second cutting edge informationdata 2 ceID. This means that the first cutting edge 21 can be identifiedusing the first cutting edge information data 1 ceID and that the secondcutting edge 22 can be identified using the second cutting edgeinformation data 2 ceID. In other words the different cutting edges havedifferent identification markers and each cutting edge can be associatedwith individual cutting edge information data.

According to an aspect the first identification marker 41 is arranged onthe cutting tool 20 at a distance to the first cutting edge 21 that isshorter than the distance from the first identification marker 41 to thesecond cutting edge 22, and the second identification marker 42 isarranged on the cutting tool 20 at a distance to the second cutting edge22 that is shorter than the distance from the second identificationmarker 42 to the first cutting edge 21. This is illustrated in the FIGS.1a -1 c. One advantage with this arrangement of the identificationmarkers is that an operator, or a machine, can determine which cuttingedge that is associated with a certain identification marker. Anoperator can easy determine that a certain identification marker isassociated with a certain cutting edge by visual inspection of thecutting tool. A machine, e.g. utilizing a camera sensor an imageprocessing, can also determine that a certain identification marker isassociated with a certain cutting edge by e.g. using object recognitionto determine the distance to the cutting edge.

According to an aspect the at least first identification marker 41 is atleast any of, or a combination of at least any of, a two dimensionalcode, a three dimensional code, an image, a Quick Response code, a HighCapacity Colored Two Dimensional Code, a European Article Number code, aDataMatrix code or a MaxiCode. This means that the at least firstidentification marker 41 is visually readable on the cutting tool 20 bya machine but also visually detectable by e.g. an operator handling thecutting tool.

According to an aspect the at least first identification marker 41 is anindustry standard machine readable code. According to an aspect the atleast first identification marker 41 is a company internal machinereadable code. According to an aspect the at least first identificationmarker 41 is an open source machine readable code.

According to an aspect the at least first identification marker 41 isapplied using different colours. According to an aspect the at leastfirst identification marker 41 is etched at the cutting tool close tothe cutting edge or etched on the surface of the cutting edge.

According to an aspect the association between the machine readable codeand the cutting edge information data is defined by a known algorithmfor the specific identification marker. According to an aspect cuttingedge information data is coded, using a known algorithm for a specificidentification marker, which determines the appearance of theidentification marker.

The disclosure further proposes a system 100 for increasing traceabilityof at least a first cutting edge 21 of a cutting tool 20. FIGS. 2a-2cillustrates different systems according to some aspects of thedisclosure.

The system 100 comprises a reader device 10 a, 10 b, 10 c for reading amachine readable code. According to an aspect the reader device 10 a, 10b, 10 c is any of a camera based reader; a video camera reader; apen-type reader with photodiodes; a laser scanner; a charge-coupleddevice, CCD, reader or a cell phone camera. The reader device 10 a, 10b, 10 c may be a component integrated in an electronic device 1 a, 1 b,1 c or a stand-alone component. The system further comprises anelectronic device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c configured to be connected with thereader device 10 a, 10 b, 10 c. According to an aspect the electronicdevice 1 a, 1 b, 1 c is configured to be connected with a communicationnetwork 50. FIG. 2a illustrates an electronic device 1 a in form of asmartphone, tablet, cellular phone, feature phone or any portableelectronic device. In one example, illustrated in FIG. 2 a, the readerdevice 10 a is the camera of a smartphone 1 a.

The electronic device may also be an installed electronic device 1 b,e.g. a part of a machine as illustrated in FIG. 2 b. In one example,illustrated in FIG. 2 b, the reader device 10 b is a stand-alone readerdevice connected to the electronic device 1 b and installed as a part ofthe machine.

According to an aspect the electronic device is a remote server 1 cconnected to a reader device 10 c via a communication network 50.

According to an aspect the electronic device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c furthercomprising a memory 103 a, 103 b, 103 c. According to an aspect oneelectronic device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c is configured to be connected to anotherelectronic device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c via a communication network 50. In oneexample the communication network 50, as illustrated in e.g. FIG. 2a andFIG. 2 c, is a standardized wireless local area network such as aWireless Local Area Network, WLAN, Bluetooth™, ZigBee, Ultra-Wideband,Near Field Communication, NFC, Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, orsimilar network. In one example the communication network 50 is astandardized wireless wide area network such as a Global System forMobile Communications, GSM, Extended GSM, General Packet Radio Service,GPRS, Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution, EDGE, Wideband CodeDivision Multiple Access, WCDMA, Long Term Evolution, LTE,Narrowband-IoT, 5G, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access,WiMAX or Ultra Mobile Broadband, UMB or similar network. Thecommunication network 50 can also be a combination of both a local areanetwork and a wide area network. The communication network 50 can alsobe a wired network. According to an aspect the communication network 50is defined by common Internet Protocols. According to an aspect theelectronic device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c is configured to be connected to amemory 103 a, 103 b, 103 c in another electronic device 1 a, 1 b, 1 cvia the communication network 50.

The electronic device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c having at least one processingcircuitry 102 a, 102 b, 102 c configured to cause the system 100 todetect, by the reader device 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, at least a firstidentification marker 41 on the cutting tool 20 wherein the at leastfirst identification marker 41 is a machine readable code. Theprocessing circuitry 102 a, 102 b, 102 c is then further configured tocause the system 100 to read, by the reader device 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, theat least first identification marker 41 and decode the at least firstidentification marker 41 to determine at least a first cutting edgeinformation data 1 ceID comprised in the machine readable code of the atleast first identification marker 41.

The processing circuitry 102 a, 102 b, 102 c is then further configuredto cause the system 100 to generate a first cutting tool identificationdata 1 ctID based on at least the at least first cutting edgeinformation data 1 ceID and store at least any of the at least firstcutting tool identification data 1 ctID and the at least first cuttingedge information data 1 ceID in a memory 103 a, 103 b, 103 c. Oneadvantage with the system is that the generated first cutting toolidentification data 1 ctID is based on the at least first cutting edgeinformation data 1 ceID. This means that there is an association betweenthe generated first cutting tool identification data 1 ctID and the atleast first cutting edge information data 1 ceID. According to an aspectthe first cutting tool identification data 1 ctID is based on a uniqueidentity comprised in the first cutting edge information data 1 ceID. Inone example the first cutting edge information data 1 ceID is a serialnumber, e.g. ABCD12345, and the first cutting tool identification data 1ctID is generated based on the serial number, e.g. by adding the actualtime, e.g. Apr. 15, 2019 15:36, when the first cutting toolidentification data 1 ctID is generated, e.g. “Apr. 15, 2019 15:36ABCD12345”.

In another example the first cutting edge information data 1 ceID is aserial number, e.g. ABCD12345, and the first cutting tool identificationdata 1 ctID is generated based on the serial number, e.g. by adding acustomer order number, e.g. 12009800, when the first cutting toolidentification data 1 ctID is generated, e.g. “12009800 ABCD12345”. Inother words from the moment when the first cutting tool identificationdata 1 ctID is generated there is an association between the cuttingtool identification data 1 ctID and the at least first cutting edgeinformation data 1 ceID.

According to an aspect the at least first cutting edge information data1 ceID comprising a unique identity and manufacturing information data.In one example the manufacturer of cutting tools generates cutting edgeinformation data based on the unique identity, e.g. a serial number, andadding manufacturing data such as manufacturing date and time, materialdata, oven data, etc.

According to an aspect the processing circuitry 102 a, 102 b, 102 c isfurther configured to cause the system 100 to detect, by the readerdevice 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, a second identification marker 42 on thecutting tool 20 wherein the second identification marker 42 is a machinereadable code. The processing circuitry 102 a, 102 b, 102 c is thenfurther configured to cause the system 100 to read, by the reader device10 a, 10 b, 10 c, the second identification marker 42, and decode thesecond identification marker 42 to determine a second cutting edgeinformation data 2 ceID comprised in the machine readable code of thesecond identification marker 42. The processing circuitry 102 a, 102 b,102 c is then further configured to cause the system 100 to generate afirst cutting tool identification data 1 ctID based on the first cuttingedge information data 1 ceID and the second cutting edge informationdata 2 ceID. One advantage with the system is then that the generatedfirst cutting tool identification data 1 ctID is based on the at leastfirst cutting edge information data 1 ceID and the second cutting edgeinformation data 2 ceID. This means that there is an association betweenthe generated first cutting tool identification data 1 ctID and the atleast first cutting edge information data 1 ceID and the second cuttingedge information data 2 ceID.

According to an aspect the first cutting tool identification data 1 ctIDis based on the unique identity comprised in the first cutting edgeinformation data 1 ceID and on the unique identity comprised in thesecond cutting edge information data 2 ceID. In one example the firstcutting edge information data 1 ceID is a serial number, e.g. ABCD12345,and the second cutting edge information data 2 ceID is a serial number,e.g. EFGH67890, and the first cutting tool identification data 1 ctID isgenerated based on both serial numbers, e.g. by adding the actual timee.g. Apr. 15, 2019 15:36 when the first cutting tool identification data1 ctID is generated, e.g. “Apr. 15, 2019 15:36 ABCD12345 EFGH67890”.

In another example the first cutting edge information data 1 ceID is aserial number, e.g. ABCD12345, and the second cutting edge informationdata 2 ceID is a serial number, e.g. EFGH67890, and the first cuttingtool identification data 1 ctID is generated based on both serialnumbers, e.g. by adding a customer order number, e.g. 12009800, when thefirst cutting tool identification data 1 ctID is generated, e.g.“12009800 ABCD12345 EFGH67890”. In other words from the moment when thefirst cutting tool identification data 1 ctID is generated there is anassociation between the cutting tool identification data 1 ctID and thefirst cutting edge information data 1 ceID and the second cutting edgeinformation data 2 ceID.

According to an aspect, when manufacturing the cutting tool 20 themanufacturer is using all the existing identification markers on eachcutting edge, that are mounted on the cutting tool 20, in order togenerate a first cutting tool identification data 1 ctID that is basedon each existing cutting edge information data on the cutting tool 20.In other words, when generating the first cutting tool identificationdata 1 ctID there is an association with each cutting edge informationdata of each cutting edge that exists on the cutting tool 20. This maybe desired in order to be able to trace a certain cutting edge at alater point of time during the lifetime of the cutting tool 20.

According to an aspect the system 100 further comprises a cutting tool20 comprising at least a first cutting edge 21, wherein the cutting tool20 is configured to be mounted in a cutting tool holder 19. This meansthat the cutting tool can be mounted in a cutting tool holder 19 of amachine for processing a piece of material. According to an aspect thecutting tool 20 further comprising a tool holder 19.

The disclosure further proposes a method for increasing traceability ofat least a first cutting edge 21 of a cutting tool 20. According to anaspect the described system 100 is configured to carry out any or moreof the aspects of the method that will be described hereinafter. Thesteps of the method is illustrated in FIG. 3.

The method comprising the step of S1 a detecting, by a reader device 10a, 10 b, 10 c, at least a first identification marker 41 on the cuttingtool 20 wherein the at least first identification marker 41 is a machinereadable code. The method further comprising the step of S2 a reading,by the reader device 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, the at least first identificationmarker 41 and the step of S3 a decoding the at least firstidentification marker 41 to determine at least a first cutting edgeinformation data 1 ceID comprised in the machine readable code of the atleast first identification marker 41. The method then further comprisingthe step of S4 a generating a first cutting tool identification data 1ctID based on at least the at least first cutting edge information data1 ceID and the step of S7 storing at least any of the at least firstcutting tool identification data 1 ctID and the at least first cuttingedge information data 1 ceID in a memory 103 a, 103 b, 103 c. Oneadvantage with the method is that the generated first cutting toolidentification data 1 ctID is based on the at least first cutting edgeinformation data 1 ceID. This means that there is an association betweenthe generated first cutting tool identification data 1 ctID and the atleast first cutting edge information data 1 ceID.

According to an aspect the method further comprising the step of S1 bdetecting, by the reader device 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, a secondidentification marker 42 on the cutting tool 20 wherein the secondidentification marker 42 is a machine readable code; followed by thestep of S2 b reading, by the reader device 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, the secondidentification marker 42, followed by the step of S3 b decoding thesecond identification marker 41 to determine a second cutting edgeinformation data 2 ceID comprised in the machine readable code of thesecond identification marker 42. The method then further comprising thestep of S4 b generating a first cutting tool identification data 1 ctIDbased on the first cutting edge information data 1 ceID and the secondcutting edge information data 2 ceID. One advantage with this aspect ofthe method is that the generated first cutting tool identification data1 ctID is based on the at least first cutting edge information data 1ceID and the second cutting edge information data 2 ceID. This meansthat there is an association between the generated first cutting toolidentification data 1 ctID and the at least first cutting edgeinformation data 1 ceID and the second cutting edge information data 2ceID.

According to an aspect the method further comprising the step of S5receiving input of at least a first operation data 1OD to be associatedwith at least any of the at least first cutting tool identification data1 ctID and the at least first cutting edge information data 1 ceID andthe step of S8 storing the at least first operation data 1OD associatedwith at least one of the at least first cutting tool identification data1 ctID and the at least first cutting edge information data 1 ceID inthe memory 103 a, 103 b, 103 c. This means that a first operation data1OD can be stored and associated with at least one of the at least firstcutting tool identification data 1 ctID and the at least first cuttingedge information data 1 ceID, so that the first operation data 1OD canbe retrieved at a later point of time with knowledge of at least one ofthe at least first cutting tool identification data 1 ctID and the atleast first cutting edge information data 1 ceID.

According to an aspect the input of at least a first operation data 1ODis input by an operator via a user interface 400 a, 400 b, 400 c of theelectronic device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c. According to an aspect the input of atleast a first operation data 1OD is input from a machine connected tothe electronic device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c.

According to an aspect the least a first operation data 1OD is“preparation for operation data”. In one example the preparation foroperation data relates to manufacturing data such as batch number data,manufacturing date and time data, material composition data, ovenidentification data, manufacturing plant data, material sourcing data,contact information data, part identification data, order identificationdata etc.

According to an aspect the at least first operation data 1OD is “afteroperation data”. In one example the after operation data relates tousage by a customer such as machine identification data, usage date andtime data, material handling data, runtime data, temperature data,rounds per minute data, material identification data, operatoridentification data, machine identification data, customeridentification data, free text data.

FIG. 5 illustrates example associations that can be determined out froma first cutting tool identification data 1 ctID. In the example in FIG.5 the first cutting tool identification data 1 ctID is generated basedon five different cutting edge information: 1 ceID=AB01, 2 ceID=AB02 3ceID=AB03, 4 ceID=AB04 and 5 ceID=AB05. In the example in FIG. 5 thefirst cutting tool identification data 1 ctID is further associated witha first operation data 1OD=RT10 h and a second operation data 2OD=RT35h.

According to an aspect the method further comprising the step of S6generating at least a first association data 1AD comprising the at leastfirst cutting tool identification data 1 ctID associated with at leastone of the at least first cutting edge information data 1 ceID and theat least first operation data 1OD and S9 storing the least a firstassociation data 1AD in the memory 103 a, 103 b, 103 c. This means thatthe at least a first association data 1AD can be used for identifyingthe at least first cutting tool identification data 1 ctID withknowledge of any of the at least first cutting edge information data 1ceID and the at least first operation data 1OD, or that the at least afirst association data 1AD can be used for identifying at least any ofthe first cutting edge information data 1 ceID and the at least firstoperation data 1OD with knowledge of the at least first cutting toolidentification data 1 ctID. Again, FIG. 5 is used for illustrating afirst association data 1AD. In the example in FIG. 5 the firstassociation data 1AD comprising all associations possible between theplural cutting tool identification data; 1 ctID, 2 ctID, 3 ctID, 4 ctIDand 5 ctID, and the first cutting tool identification data 1 ctID, andthe first operation data 1OD=RT10 h and the second operation data2OD=RT35 h.

According to an aspect the method further comprising the step of S10detecting, by the reader device 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, at least the firstidentification marker 41 on the cutting tool 20, followed by the step ofS11 reading, by the reader device 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, the at least firstidentification marker 41, and the step of S12 decoding the at leastfirst identification marker 41 to determine the first cutting edgeinformation data 1 ceID comprised in the machine readable code of the atleast first identification marker 41. The method then further comprisingthe step of S13 retrieving, from the memory 103 a, 103 b, 103 c, atleast any of the first cutting tool identification data 1 ctIDassociated with the first cutting edge information data 1 ceID, and theat least first operation data 1OD associated with the first cutting edgeinformation data 1 ceID. In other words by reading the at least thefirst identification marker 41 with a reader device 10 a, 10 b, 10 cinformation about any of the at first cutting tool identification data 1ctID and the at least first operation data 1OD can be retrieved from thememory 103 a, 103 b, 103 c. An example is illustrated with reference toFIG. 5. In the example the reader device 10 a, 10 b, 10 c reads a secondidentification marker 42 to determine the second cutting edgeinformation data 2 ceID comprised in the machine readable code of thesecond identification marker 42. In the example in FIG. 5 the secondcutting edge information data 2 ceID=AB02. Now since “AB02” isassociated with the first cutting tool identification data 1 ctID, itcan be determined that the read identification marker, in this case thesecond identification marker 42, belongs to the cutting tool 20 with thefirst cutting tool identification data 1 ctID. Since the first cuttingtool identification data 1 ctID is further associated with four othercutting edge information data, it can be determined that the cuttingtool 20 further comprises the four cutting edges associated with thecutting edge identification data 1 ceID, 3 ceID, 4 ceID and 5 ceID. Inthe example of FIG. 5 it can further be determined that the cutting tool20 is also associated with a first operation data and a second operationdata.

In other words, in a use case example, an operator may use a readerdevice 10 a, 10 b, 10 c to read any identification marker to determineassociated information such as the cutting tool identification data andoperation data. In an example, by reading one identification marker at acutting edge of a cutting tool with 24 different cutting edges,information about each of the other 23 cutting edges on the cutting toolcan be retrieved, together with e.g. operation data associated with thecutting tool as such or associated with each and every cutting edge.

In particular this is possible when a manufacturer of a cutting toolgenerates the cutting tool identification data based on each and everycutting edge information data of each and every cutting edge of aspecific cutting tool.

According to an aspect the method further comprising the step of S14displaying, via a user interface 400 a, 400 b, 400 c, least any of thefirst cutting tool identification data 1 ctID, the first cutting edgeinformation data 1 ceID, and the at least first operation data 1OD. Thismeans that an operator can see the retrieved information via a userinterface 400 a, 400 b, 400 c.

In particular this is of interest for traceability of a cutting edge ofa cutting tool. In one example a cutting tool has not processed a pieceof material as expected and is malfunctioning. An operator may use areader device to retrieve information about the particular cutting edge.Operational data such as preparation for operation data includingmaterial composition data, together with operation data such as afteroperation data including runtime data, may give the operator, or e.g. amanufacturer of a cutting tool, a certain understanding of why thiscutting edge on this cutting tool has not performed as expected. It mayturn out that the material composition when manufacturing the cuttingedge was not intended to the total runtime that the cutting edge hasbeen exposed to. A manufacturer could in this case e.g. recommendanother cutting tool with other cutting edges for the particularmachining, but also learn what will happen to a cutting edge of certainmaterial composition when being exposed to a certain runtime.

FIG. 6 illustrates example cutting tools each with unique cutting edgeinformation data according to some aspects of the disclosure. Accordingto an aspect, when manufacturing cutting tools the cutting toolidentification data is not yet generated but each cutting tool isprovided with identification markers that are machine readable codesassociated with cutting edge information data. This means that eachcutting edge can be identified using the cutting edge information data.According to an aspect the cutting edge information data is a uniqueidentity. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6 a batch of 1000 cuttingtools are manufactured. The first cutting tool, A, is provided with twoidentification markers, each associated with cutting edge informationdata that is unique, in the example #AA0001 and #AA0002. The secondcutting tool, B, is provided with two identification markers, eachassociated with cutting edge information data that is unique, in theexample #AA0003 and #AA0004. The last cutting tool of the batch, C, isalso provided with two identification markers, each associated withcutting edge information data that is unique, in the example #AA1999 and#AA2000.

According to an aspect the method is performed at an electronic device 1a, 1 b, 1 c having at least one processing circuitry 102 a, 102 b, 102c.

The disclosure further proposes, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a computerprogram product 500 comprising a non-transitory computer readablemedium, having thereon a computer program comprising programinstructions, the computer program being loadable into a processingcircuitry 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and configured to cause execution of themethod, and any aspect of the method, when the computer program is runby the processing circuitry 102 a, 102 b, 102 c.

According to an aspect the system 100 is configured to carry out any ormore of the aspects of the described method. According to an aspect ofthe disclosure, the method is carried out by instructions in a softwareprogram that is downloaded and run in the system 100.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplaryembodiments. However, many variations and modifications can be made tothese embodiments. Accordingly, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the embodiments being defined bythe following claims.

1. A cutting tool comprising at least a first cutting edge and at leasta first identification marker arranged at the first cutting edge,wherein the at least first identification marker is a machine readablecode associated with first cutting edge information data, and whereinthe first cutting edge information data is a unique identity.
 2. Thecutting tool according to claim 1, further comprising a second cuttingedge and a second identification marker arranged at the second cuttingedge, wherein the second identification marker is a machine readablecode associated with a second cutting edge information data.
 3. Thecutting tool according to claim 2, wherein the first identificationmarker is arranged on the cutting tool at a distance to the firstcutting edge that is shorter than a distance from the firstidentification marker to the second cutting edge, and the secondidentification marker is arranged on the cutting tool at a distance tothe second cutting edge that is shorter than a distance from the secondidentification marker to the first cutting edge.
 4. The cutting toolaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least first identification markeris at least any of, or a combination of at least any of, a twodimensional code, a three dimensional code, an image a Quick Responsecode, a High Capacity Colored Two Dimensional Code, a European ArticleNumber code, a DataMatrix code and a MaxiCode.
 5. A system forincreasing traceability of at least a first cutting edge of a cuttingtool, the system comprising: a reader device for reading a machinereadable code; an electronic device configured to be connected with thereader device, the electronic device having at least one processingcircuitry configured to cause the system to: detect, by the readerdevice, at least a first identification marker on the cutting toolwherein the at least first identification marker is a machine readablecode; read, by the reader device, the at least first identificationmarker; decode the at least first identification marker to determine atleast a first cutting edge information data comprised in the machinereadable code of the at least first identification marker, wherein thefirst cutting edge information data is a unique identity; generate afirst cutting tool identification data based on at least the at leastfirst cutting edge information data; and store at least any of the atleast first cutting tool identification data and the at least firstcutting edge information data in a memory.
 6. The system according toclaim 5, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to causethe system to detect, by the reader device, a second identificationmarker on the cutting tool wherein the second identification marker is amachine readable code read, by the reader device, the secondidentification marker decode the second identification marker todetermine a second cutting edge information data comprised in themachine readable code of the second identification marker, and generatea first cutting tool identification data based on the first cutting edgeinformation data and the second cutting edge information data.
 7. Thesystem according claim 5, further comprising a cutting tool including atleast a first cutting edge, wherein the cutting tool is configured to bemounted in a cutting tool holder.
 8. A method for increasingtraceability of at least a first cutting edge of a cutting tool, themethod comprising: detecting, by a reader device, at least a firstidentification marker on the cutting tool, wherein the at least firstidentification marker is a machine readable code; reading, by the readerdevice, the at least first identification marker; decoding the at leastfirst identification marker to determine at least a first cutting edgeinformation data comprised in the machine readable code of the at leastfirst identification marker, wherein the first cutting edge informationdata is a unique identity; generating a first cutting toolidentification data based on at least the at least first cutting edgeinformation data; and storing at least any of the at least first cuttingtool identification data and the at least first cutting edge informationdata in a memory.
 9. The method according to claim 8, further comprisingdetecting, by the reader device, a second identification marker on thecutting tool wherein the second identification marker is a machinereadable code, reading, by the reader device, the second identificationmarker, decoding the second identification marker to determine a secondcutting edge information data comprised in the machine readable code ofthe second identification marker, and generating a first cutting toolidentification data based on the first cutting edge information data andthe second cutting edge information data.
 10. The method according toclaim 8, further comprising receiving input of at least a firstoperation data to be associated with at least any of the at least firstcutting tool identification data and the at least first cutting edgeinformation data, and storing the at least first operation dataassociated with at least one of the at least first cutting toolidentification data and the at least first cutting edge information datain the memory.
 11. The method according to claim 10, further comprisinggenerating at least a first association data comprising the at leastfirst cutting tool identification data associated with at least one ofthe at least first cutting edge information data and the at least firstoperation data, and storing the least a first association data in thememory.
 12. The method according to claim 10, further comprisingdetecting, by the reader device, at least the first identificationmarker on the cutting tool reading, by the reader device, the at leastfirst identification marker decoding the at least first identificationmarker to determine the first cutting edge information data comprised inthe machine readable code of the at least first identification markerand retrieving, from the memory, at least any of the first cutting toolidentification data associated with the first cutting edge informationdata and the at least first operation data associated with the firstcutting edge information data.
 13. The method according to claim 10,further comprising displaying, via a user interface, at least any of thefirst cutting tool identification data, the first cutting edgeinformation data, and the at least first operation data.
 14. The methodaccording to claim 8, wherein the method is performed by an electronicdevice having at least one processing circuitry.
 15. A computer programproduct including a non-transitory computer readable medium, havingthereon a computer program including program instructions, the computerprogram being loadable into a processing circuitry and configured tocause execution of the method according to claim 8 when the computerprogram is run by the processing circuitry.